The Freedom That Comes from Turning Inward

Assalaamu’alaykum,

As they say hindsight is 20/20.

And it’s true! When I reflect back, I can see that my first instinct was always to look outward before turning inward.

If something (or someone!) upset me, my attention would go straight to what others said or did. That made me sensitive, quick to take things the wrong way and I often felt at the mercy of people’s words and actions. I’d find myself ruminating over events, replaying them in my mind and sitting with heavy emotions that weighed me down.

It wasn’t until I started turning the focus inwards that my life started to change.

The moment I held myself accountable, I realised I did have control… over my feelings, my reactions and ultimately, the way I experienced life.

Allah, in His infinite mercy, has blessed us with the ability to turn inward and He has guided us with the tools to do so.

As He reminds us in the Qur’an, "And those who strive for Us – We will surely guide them to Our ways." (29:69)

This new way of seeing myself changed everything. It gave me a sense of freedom I hadn’t known before, Alhamdulilah.

Because when we shift our focus from others to ourselves, we break free from the weight of people’s words and actions. We take away their power to pull us down, to make us judge ourselves harshly or to stir the worst parts of who we are.

If you often find yourself feeling sensitive or reactive to others and it’s hard to manage your feelings or responses, here are 3 simple but powerful steps to begin with:

Notice yourself first. Instead of jumping to blame, pause and ask: What do I need to see or understand about myself right now?
Regulate before you respond. Give yourself space to diffuse the intensity of your emotions: step away, breathe deeply or take a short walk before engaging.
Invite Allah into the process. Ask Him to reveal what needs addressing within you and to grant you the courage to face it with strength and sincerity.
These steps sound small, but they open doors to transformation. Over time, you’ll find yourself less knocked off balance by other people’s actions and more anchored in your own clarity, self knowledge and trust in Allah.

I’ve seen this shift not just in myself, but in the hundreds of people I’ve had the blessing to work with, by Allah’s mercy. People who once felt weighed down by repeated patterns, by the sting of people’s words, behaviours and judgements, now feeling lighter, more in control and deeply connected to their faith.

If your heart is calling you to take that next step toward better self-management, I’d be honoured to support you.

I currently have just three spaces open for those ready to step out of unhealthy cycles and embrace a more spiritually anchored way of living, InshaAllah.

👉 [You can book a call with me here]

(Please note: this option is exclusive to sisters).

Sometimes, it only takes opening the door to an honest conversation to begin seeing yourself in a new light and to start exploring ways of being and living you may never have imagined possible before.

P.S. Here are a few ways we can stay connected:

1. Take the Spiritual Confidence Quiz – discover your unique strengths and growth areas when it comes to showing up with faith-led confidence. Take the quiz here.

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Reflection of the Week

Think of a time you reacted strongly to someone’s behaviour or judgement

How might it have felt different if you had paused, turned inward and invited Allah into your response?

Dua of the Week

اللَّهُمَّ اجعلني لك شَكَّارًا، لك ذَكَّارًا، لك

رَهَّابًا، لك مُطِيعًا، لك مُخْبِتًا، إليكَ أَوَّاهًا

مُنِيبًا

(O Allah, make me one who is constantly grateful to You, constantly remembering You, deeply reverent, obedient to You, humble before You, turning to You often, and penitent.) ~ Reported by Aḥmad